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John Kirkup, 'Big Jack the Mountain Sheriff.' Sketch by western artist Frederic Remington.
1890
British Columbia

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Big John Kirkup
1855 - 1916
"Big Jack, the Mountain Sheriff"

Role model for John Wayne, Portrait model for Remington Sketches:
A Legend in his own Time

This big man has in recent times become as large as life in the eyes of B.C. history buffs and artifact collectors of the Old Canadian West. He was legendary for getting his man, and would chase him through forest and mountains to capture him. One famous story known to history enthusiasts was when he followed his man over the U.S. border and across eight state-lines; seized him, and took him to Chicago for holding. In the meantime he went back to Canada to secure an extradition order in order to return him to British Columbia for his trial and subsequent hanging. 1

Such was one extraordinary lawman of B.C. While he was on this trail, the famous Western artist Frederic Remington joined him, and proceeded to make six sketches of him, some of which were later published in Harper's Magazine. One of these sketches was named "Big Jack the Mountain Sheriff," and appeared in an 1891 issue of Harper's Monthly.

Legend has it that the movie star John Wayne fashioned himself after this impressive figure of a man, as well as from Hollywood stunt man Yakima Kanut. Wayne took the lumbering pigeon-toed walk and horse lore from Kanut, and several other traits from Kirkup, including Big John's unique use of his gun; he would not shoot them, just belt them across the face with his rifle stock or gun.

Kirkup was as tough as nails and strong as an ox. He towered above everyone at six foot three, an impressive height for a man in those times. He employed his great strength wisely, never using an excess of force if he deemed it unnecessary. One of his favourite moves was the classic banging of two adversaries heads together.

His reputation was so great he turned a man away from a town just by putting his hand on his shoulder and making him face the other way. There is a well-known story about this in Rossland, then a rollicking boomtown, where he served after leaving Yale. A gambling man, who was also a recognized criminal, was heading for the town, which was situated at the bottom of a steep hill. Kirkup met the man at the top, placing his strong hand on his shoulder, and speaking pleasantly the whole time. The conversation went something like, "That is a very steep hill." The man agreed. Kirkup looked him straight in the eye, and said, "It would be a shame to go all the way down there when you will have to just turn around and come right back up." Apparently the man saw his point, turned around and left without pursuing the matter further.

Yale had two boom times, one during the Gold Rush of 1858-60, and another during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR, 1881-86). Kirkup was in his twenties, a police constable during the railroad times, and kept law and order very well. He dealt with the roughest and rowdiest of men, who would hit the saloons after payday, partying and brawling all weekend. Kirkup kept them from killing each other and hurting innocent bystanders.

He was not keen on politics and bureaucracy, and it seems that he must have offended an official with his attitude. This official ensured that Kirkup's job would be finished when the CPR was finished. He was sent somewhere else for a while, to a desk job where his talents were wasted; and was later chosen to bring law and order to Rossland in its heyday; to pursue his true calling as a peacemaker.

At an unknown date he married Margaret Susan, 2 and they had two sons in Rossland, Jack Junior, and Robert Kerr. 3

Big John Kirkup retired to Nanaimo, B.C., on Vancouver Island, where he spent the rest of his life, and died there in 1916. Margaret died in 1937. Both are buried in the Nanaimo Cemetery.

The legacy Kirkup left was one of peacekeeping, a true Canadian profession. He brought law and order to otherwise lawless towns, and everyone but the criminals benefited from his keen sense of justice.

For the Reader's Interest…

The story of his chase of a fugitive over eight U.S. states is one that is not well known, but is documented in his warrant, which is held by a private collector. According to the oral history of someone who used to have his papers, John Kirkup had to pursue a criminal over the U.S. border. While he was on this manhunt, Frederic Remington, the famed western painter and artist, joined him. Apparently, Remington was on the trail with John for six days, and sketched him once each day, in the setting they were in at the time. He sold at least one to Harpers Magazine, published in 1891. According to one collector, five of these sketches are in the Remington Museum, and one has been lost.

The oral history tells of Kirkup capturing his man somewhere near Chicago, and putting him up in the jail there while he made his way back to Canada for an extradition warrant. Obtaining this, he took the man back to be tried and hung.

1- Personal communication, Bernie of Antiquarius Books, former owner of Kirkup papers & photos
2- Maiden name unknown, Margaret Susan Kirkup, (1866-1937), died age 71 in Nanaimo
3- Jack Kirkup, born November 18, 1895, and Robert Kerr Kirkup, born December 23, 1896, both in Rossland, BC

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Crime and Law

Yale was the place where the worst crimes in BC began, where criminals fled through and where often they were apprehended, tried and punished.

Many of the men who did this noble work went on to lead successful lives in business or politics; others just enjoyed their retirement.

We hope that you have enjoyed this look into the lives of these noteworthy men.